river otters – The National Wildlife Federation Bloghttp://blog.nwf.org
The National Wildlife Federation's blogThu, 08 Dec 2016 18:09:20 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1Bringing Wildlife Photography to Lifehttp://blog.nwf.org/2016/03/bringing-wildlife-photography-to-life/
http://blog.nwf.org/2016/03/bringing-wildlife-photography-to-life/#respondSun, 13 Mar 2016 11:00:30 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=117800There are some things you never forget when you truly experience nature around you. The rush of excitement, the smells, the sounds, who you were with — it cements itself into your memory. I can tell you clearly, over a decade later, how a chill ran up the back of my neck when I witnessed the calving of a glacier in southern Argentina; I could hear it well before I came upon it, and looked up at the sky in confusion as the sun shone down… where was that thunder coming from? It finally hit me that it wasn’t above me, but in front of me, through the trees: gargantuan pieces of this fantastic structure were falling into the sea.

Cindy Goeddel, photographed by Vicki-Athens

If I were a photographer, I could visually share that experience with others and make them understand how important it is to keep that glacier and the wildlife around it safe and untouched. But my snapshots do no justice to the life breathing in and out of that place.

That’s what Cindy Goeddel, one of the NWF members we are highlighting as part of this year’s National Wildlife Week, is able to do with the wildlife and wild places around her. We had the chance to chat with Cindy over email last week, and ask her about what photographing wildlife is like, and why she has chosen to share her images with us as part of the National Wildlife Photo Contest for several years.

NWF: What is it like to get up close to wildlife and capture them on film?

Cindy Goeddel: My passion is photographing wildlife, but to do so you must understand their ways. It is hard to explain how intoxicating it is to witness and discover first-hand how a wild animal goes about its life, whether it be searching for food, finding a mate, raising young or just frolicking. With each subject and changing season, I study, watch, wait and learn; and fueled by the anticipation of capturing a different behavior, I will return to the same subject and location time and time again. Knowing the animal allows you to anticipate, and gives the opportunity to try out new photographic techniques to grow one’s knowledge. Always, my goal is to capture and convey the spirit of the individual animal without disturbing its behavior. My favorite photographs tell a story and reflect the rhythm and harmony of the land and its inhabitants. I hope that they will inspire others to value and protect wildlife and wild places.

NWF: Why have you participated in the National Wildlife Photo Contest?

CG: I grew up captivated by wildlife. In 2005, as an empty nester taking up photography for the first time, I began my photographic journey. In 2009 I entered my first National Wildlife Photo Contest – I wanted to see if I could compete with “The Best.” To my utter astonishment, I won First Place in the Landscape Division, a milestone in my career, which gave me much needed confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a successful nature photographer. My photo Bison Breaking Trail was awarded First Place (Mammals) in the 45th annual contest in 2015 – another milestone!

First place-winning “Bison Breaking Trail” by Cindy Goeddel. See more of Cindy’s work at goeddelphotography.com

NWF: What does conservation mean to you?

CG: Aldo Leopold said conservation “is a state of harmony between men and land.” I believe that we know far less of nature than we think, and that we have much to learn from its ways. In doing so, we become sounder stewards of the land and everything that inhabits it.

NWF: What does being a member of NWF mean to you?

CG: Wilderness and wild places are disappearing at an alarming rate for reasons that are neither compelling nor sound, unawareness playing a huge part in that decline. Education and involvement are vital if we are to preserve our wild places. In celebrating the marvels of nature in an accessible way, National Wildlife brings wonderment to many, but, most importantly, spreads the message of conservation. I am proud to be a part of supporting that campaign.

CG: During the 2012 annual summer spawn of native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii), a female North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) caught four Cutthroat Trout in the span of just a few minutes, delivering one to each of her three offspring. The fourth she ate herself. I have photographed otters at this location since 2006 and this was new behavior. Previously, the female adult would catch a trout with her young in tow, eat the fish and leave the young to scavenge for the scraps or eggs that fell into the water or onto the log where she ate. If they tried to grab a bite of the trout, the adult otter would spin away from her offspring and continue eating. What was different this year was that one of her young had an injured back, and had paralyzed back legs. He was able to swim, but unable to climb out of the water onto the log, so the mother otter caught a trout and placed it in a depression on a low floating log. Here it was trapped and, because each had its own trout, the little one could eat free from interference from its siblings. I utilized a slow shutter speed and panned to blur the background and to give a sense of motion.

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]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2016/03/bringing-wildlife-photography-to-life/feed/0The Remarkable Wildlife of California’s National Wildlife Refugeshttp://blog.nwf.org/2015/10/the-remarkable-wildlife-of-californias-national-wildlife-refuges/
http://blog.nwf.org/2015/10/the-remarkable-wildlife-of-californias-national-wildlife-refuges/#commentsWed, 14 Oct 2015 12:53:42 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=109621This week NWF is celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week. Wildlife refuges are some of the most important protected areas for wildlife in the country. In California, there’s no shortage of spectacular wildlife habitat and an abundance of diverse wildlife watching, from marine life on the coast to bird watching in the desert.

“If you travel much in the wilder sections of our country, sooner or later you are likely to meet the sign of the flying goose — the emblem of the national wildlife refuges… Wherever you meet this sign, respect it. It means that the land behind the sign has been dedicated by the American people to preserving, for themselves and their children as much of our native wildlife as can be retained along with our modern civilization.” – Rachel Carson (Photo USFWS)

Although millions of visitors flock to the more famous protected places like Yosemite National Park with the hopes of seeing animals, the state’s lesser known wildlife refuges offer some of the best opportunities for wildlife watching. As the California Director for the National Wildlife Federation, I travel all around the Golden State for my work, visiting some of these amazing wildlife refuges. Below are some of the spectacular refuges I’ve visited and photos of the remarkable wildlife you might encounter there:

Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge

Last year, I had the privilege of accompanying a team of scientists working on condor recovery at Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, led by Joseph Brandt of USFWS (follow their Facebook page The Condor Cave). Established in 1974 to protect the endangered California condor, the 2,471-acre refuge located in Ventura County plays a vital role in the California Condor Recovery Program, and provides key nesting and roosting habitat for the birds. I helped released Condor #628 from its crate, returning a bird home after it had had treated it for lead poisoning.

A condor in flight is impressive, and all of us—even the biologists who work daily with the birds—stood silent and awestruck as this ancient giant effortlessly glided over the hills, the wind playing its long wings like a musical instrument. Native Americans attributed the thunder to their flight, and they can travel more than 200 miles in a single day and soar 15,000 feet above the earth.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge

Sunset over the Merced National Wildlife Refuge in California’s Central Valley (photo by Cindy Jacobo)

Located in the middle of California’s Great Central Valley, the Merced National Wildlife Refuge is an important stop in avian migration as part of the Pacific Flyway. In winter a symphony of bird music resounds over the landscape. The refuge hosts the largest wintering population of lesser sandhill cranes and Ross’ geese along the Pacific Flyway, provides important breeding habitat for an array of birds, and also offers a year-round home to coyotes, ground squirrels, cottontail rabbits, beaver and long-tailed weasels.

My friend Cindy Jacobo visits the refuge every chance she gets, and is always amazed at how much wildlife she encounters. “This time of year you’ll find our beloved lesser Sandhill Cranes that have migrated from Alaska for the winter. Among other wildlife you’ll see a few coyotes, Canada geese, mallards, black-necked stilts, northern pintails, peregrine falcons, great horned owls, barn owls and a good possibility of a pelican sighting!” Cindy acts as an ambassador for the site by sharing her remarkable photos frequently on social media. “Like many others I lead a somewhat stressful life. Our local refuge is my sanctuary where I go to relax and just breathe.” Her favorite sighting on the refuge? “When I spotted a bald eagle. I’d heard they were there but very shy.”

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

OR7, the first wolf to enter California in 90 years in 2011, crossed the Oregon-California border using the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge (photo USFWS).

OR-7 made headlines in 2011 when he became the first wolf in California in ninety years, wandering a circuitous route of thousands of miles from his home in Oregon. Perhaps fittingly, when he finally made those fateful steps into California, he chose to enter on the border of the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as the nation’s first waterfowl refuge. At peak, waterfowl populations can reach almost 2 million birds across its 50,000 acres. Although OR-7 chose another place to raise his family in southern Oregon (he is now the proud father of a second litter of pups), wolves continue to repopulate California. They will likely become permanent residents of the refuge in the future.

San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge

The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge houses the largest population in the world of the endangered riparian brush rabbit (Photo USFWS/Brian Hansen).

From my home in outside Yosemite, I often travel to the San Francisco Bay area for work. Instead of staying on the major freeways, I usually drive across the Central Valley via the scenic California State Route 132, a two-lane road that meanders through the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. While I often view great blue herons or snowy egrets along the riverbanks, I learned about a lesser seen inhabitant of the refuge while attending the annual Wildlife Society Western Region Conference–the endangered riparian brush rabbit. Through a partnership with the Endangered Species Recovery Program at California State University, Stanislaus, the Refuge has released captive bred rabbits to reintroduce the animal to its native homeland.

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay

In 1974, the southern end of the San Francisco Bay become the site for the nation’s first urban national wildlife preserve, the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Surrounded by cities with a total population of almost 8 million people, the site enjoys 700,000 visitors a year. Home to more than a half a million shorebirds, including the endangered California clapper rail, you’ll also find a diverse array of wildlife at the refuge, from the tiny salt marsh harvest mouse (also endangered) to the largest mammal frequenting its borders, the harbor seal. The refuge is also the site of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, the largest tidal restoration project on the west coast.

Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex

A bobcat kitten peeks out from a tree at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex (photo Sonny Bono NWR )

At the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, you can find a diverse array of wildlife. Located on the southeast shore of the Salton Sea, which is one of the world’s largest inland seas and also one of the lowest at 227 feet below sea level, the refuge is just 40 miles from the Mexican border. Conditions in this desert land can be extreme–summer temperatures regularly exceed 100F.

Yet the site is the largest stop in California for birds on the Pacific Flyway, houses more than 70% of the state’s burrowing owl population, and an array of mammals like the coyote, desert pocket mouse, and Merriam’s kangaroo rat live within its boundaries. Another fun fact about this unusual place is that Sonny Bono learned to water ski at the Salton Sea and in 1998 the Refuge was renamed for the Congressman as a result of his efforts to help protect it.

Pixley National Wildlife Refuge

Sandhill cranes at Pixley National Wildlife Refuge (Photo Beth Pratt)

In the winter months, I’ll always try to make a stop on my drive to or from Los Angeles at Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, located about 45 miles north of Bakersfield, to view the sandhill cranes. From the observation deck, you can watch these graceful birds fly in and out of the refuge, sometimes with the tule fog creeping through the fields creating a ghostly backdrop.

These cranes have journeyed from as far as Alaska, and the refuge has housed over 6,400 of these weary travelers at times. Located on the shores of historic Tulare Lake–once the largest lake west of the Great Lakes– Pixley also provides habitat for the many threatened and endangered species such as the San Joaquin kit fox, vernal pool fairy shrimp and Tipton kangaroo rat.

Lake Merritt

A river otter hangs out on a dock in 2013, the first to be seen in at Oakland’s Lake Merritt in decades. (Photo by Randy Gorringe)

Lake Merritt is a 155-acre tidal lagoon in downtown Oakland that has the distinction of being the first wildlife refuge in the country. In 1869, the then mayor of Oakland designated the lake as a refuge for migrating birds, followed by the state of California naming it a state game refuge in 1870. But like the larger San Francisco Bay to which it is connected, the Lake suffered from pollution as the population in the Golden State grew, and just a decade ago the lake’s stagnant water and littered shores made it an eyesore.

The community rallied and voters in Oakland agreed to fund restoration efforts in 2002. Nature responded with a noticeable increase of wildlife, and in 2013, a river otter paid the ultimate compliment by hanging out on a shoreline dock. He’s the first to be seen in the area in decades.

Farallon National Wildlife Refuge

A humpback whale breaches in the waters off the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge (Photo by Isidore Szczepaniak).

Often referred to as California’s Galapagos, the Farallon Islands hosts the largest seabird nesting colony in the contiguous United States, along with the largest colony of western gulls in the world. An abundance of marine life swim in its waters including humpback whales, Risso’s dolphins, and elephant seals. The Farallons also rank as one of the best places in the world to study great white sharks, who frequent the waters in search of a pinniped meal Even if you can’t visit, you can check out views of the refuge at the live Farallones Cam.

Unlike the other refuges listed in this blog, I have never visited the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, located about 30 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge, as the site is closed to public access. My friend and scientist, Izzy Szczepaniak with Golden Gate Cetacean Research, has made frequent journeys to the area for his research, and wrote his master’s thesis was on “Abundance, Distribution, and Natural History of Harbor Porpoise in the Gulf of the Farallones.” I have lived vicariously through him as he often shares both photos and tales of the Farallons.

Happy National Wildlife Refuge Week!

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2015/10/the-remarkable-wildlife-of-californias-national-wildlife-refuges/feed/15 Reasons Why Oil and Water Don’t Mix for Wildlifehttp://blog.nwf.org/2015/07/5-reasons-why-oil-and-water-dont-mix-for-wildlife/
http://blog.nwf.org/2015/07/5-reasons-why-oil-and-water-dont-mix-for-wildlife/#commentsWed, 01 Jul 2015 16:01:49 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=107776We all know that oil and water don’t mix. But the stakes are especially high for wildlife when oil spills into the lakes, streams and rivers where wildlife live.

If industry has its way, more tar sands oil – a nasty, tarry substance ripped from the productive evergreen forests of Canada – will run through pipes and on trains along some of America’s most valuable waters for wildlife.

The sad result will almost certainly be more tar sands spills, harming moose, waterfowl, great herons, river otters, and a host of other creatures. Here are some reasons we need to say no to tar sands oil:

Oil Pipelines WILL Leak, Spill and Explode Into Waters

Despite industry claims that oil pipelines are safe, the facts speak otherwise. Oil pipelines leak, burst and rupture causing massive water contamination. In 2010, the nation’s largest inland oil spill ever occurred when an Enbridge-owned tar sands pipeline burst in Marshall, Michigan, coating large parts of a 40 mile section of the Kalamazoo River with heavy oil. In 2011, another pipeline burst in the Yellowstone River, sending at least 42,000 gallons down a 20-mile stretch of the river, sullying the banks and floodplains. Just this spring, a pipeline burst in Santa Barbara, California creating a nine-mile plume on the ocean that harmed otters, seals, shorebirds and other wildlife.

Tar Sands Oil Can’t Be Fully Cleaned Up

While conventional oil floats on water, making it possible to skim large amounts off the surface, tar sands oil is sticky and heavy, and it sinks. It mixes with the bottom of the waterbody and stays there indefinitely. Despite repeated dredging attempts, after five years and over a billion dollars of clean-up expense, the Kalamazoo River is still polluted with oil. In short, tar sands is very expensive and nearly impossible to clean up.

Tar Sands Oil Kills Wildlife and Destroys Habitat

The Kalamazoo spill coated and killed countless wildlife in Michigan. The spill killed many of birds, turtles and mammals it oiled. In fact, a quarter of impacted birds died, and over 60% of small mammals affected perished. The spill also harmed fish eggs, and the tiny midges and flies that provide fish with food, upsetting the food chain.

Oil Pipeline Safety Measures Are a JOKE, But No Laughing Matter for Waters and Wildlife

Pipeline safety regulation is severely lax and lacking. Federal rules allow pipeline companies to basically write their own safety plans with little review. Recent spills show how dire the situation is. In the Kalamazoo spill, it took the company 17 hours to detect the spill. 81% of the tar sands oil that spilled was pumped after the pipe burst. A 2013 tar sands spill in Arkansas occurred on an old line and officials suspect the line may have been too old and weak to handle its use. In the Santa Barbara spill, the pipe wall had been allowed to wear away to virtually nothing with little oversight.

Tar Sands Expansion Plans Threaten Vital Waters

Despite major spills and extreme threats, industry wants to run more tar sands oil though places which will threaten the waters wildlife depend on. In Northern New England, industry is eyeing plans to run tar sands through and near waters that are important to moose and other wildlife – places like Victory Bog, Vermont, the Connecticut River and Sebago Lake, which supply 200,000 Mainers with drinking water. Industry is already seeking to expand tar sands transport near the Great Lakes and through the vital wetlands, streams and rivers of Northern Minnesota where moose, loons, wolves and other wildlife live. And there are also plans to bring train cars loaded with tar sands along the shores of Lake Champlain, a jewel of Northern New England and upstate New York.

Thanks to support from wildlife advocates like you, National Wildlife Federation is working with affiliates and partners to stop these threats.

We are convincing municipalities to oppose tar sands expansion, advocating for stricter safety measures, and pushing for clean, renewable energy alternatives to get us off oil. We need energy investments that don’t threaten moose, loons, river otters and other wildlife with toxic spills that permanently destroy our rivers, wetlands, lakes and streams.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2015/07/5-reasons-why-oil-and-water-dont-mix-for-wildlife/feed/1Small but Mighty: Streams and Wetlands that Matterhttp://blog.nwf.org/2015/04/small-but-mighty-streams-and-wetlands-that-matter/
http://blog.nwf.org/2015/04/small-but-mighty-streams-and-wetlands-that-matter/#respondMon, 13 Apr 2015 17:23:57 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=105816Marshes, wetlands, intermittent streams, and even some lakes fill from rainwater or snowmelt then empty through evaporation—coming and going throughout the year. These small but mighty habitats filter out pollution, ease the effects of flooding, and provide water for wildlife in dry climates.

These habitats, called ephemeral bodies of water, are critical for many species, but small streams and wetlands are at risk and need our help.

Here are a few examples of wildlife that need these on-again, off-again waters!

River Otters

Three river otters. Photo by James “Newt” Perdue, USFWS

River otters are playful semi-aquatic mammals who spend a lot of time in the water – they can even hold their breath for up to 8 minutes! They make their homes near many types of water, including marshes and wetlands. However, they are extremely sensitive to water pollution, which in tandem with unregulated trapping and hunting, had diminished their numbers in the past. Their numbers are coming back strong, but clean water is key to their survival.

Pronghorn

Pronghorn are the fastest land animal in North America, and can reach a peak speed of 60 miles an hour. So while they won’t beat a cheetah in the sprint, they can maintain their speed for much longer. In Wyoming, around 400 pronghorn migrate from the Grand Teton National Park to the Upper Green Basin for the winter. During the 150 mile journey, they rely on bodies of water like terminal basins, which are closed, standing bodies of water. These are important for both the water they provide and the food from the ecosystem of terminal basins.

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn sheep in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, courtesy of the National Park Service.

Bighorn sheep are known for- you guessed it- their big horns! The male horns can weigh up to 30 pounds, and some can grow to over 3 feet long. In California, federally-listed bighorn sheep rely on pools of standing water called tenajas as a key source of water in an otherwise arid and hot climate. Desert bighorn sheep tend to live within 2-3 miles of water, so the disappearance of any of these tenajas would threaten the species’ survival.

Salamanders

Spotted salamander in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, courtesy of the National Park Service

A few species of salamanders have adapted to the changing life of living in a vernal pool, a temporary pool that usually fills in the spring and evaporates depending upon the weather, but often contains water well into the summer. While adult salamanders live on dry land, during the spring they will go to a vernal pool to lay their eggs, which will develop and hatch during the summer. If the pool lasts long enough, the young salamanders will grow and emerge to become terrestrial animals. One cool thing about these salamander eggs is that they contain green algae, so that when the embryonic salamander produces carbon dioxide it turns it into oxygen that the embryo can use.

American Avocets

American avocets are migratory birds that use ephemeral waters as their pit stops along their migratory path. Prairie pothole wetlands are often frequented by avocets. These “potholes” provide a shallow habitat for avocets to search for food, as well as to nest in the spring. Their chicks are quick learners – within 24 hours after hatching, they can already walk, swim, and dive to avoid predators!

In its 2008 Ephemeral Streams report , the U.S. EPA estimates that these types of waters make up about 59% of all streams in the United States (except Alaska). For more than a decade, Clean Water Act protections for these waters have been uncertain, putting them at increased risk of pollution and destruction.

But you have a chance to change that. A bill that would allow polluters free rein in these bodies of water is coming to a vote this week. You can do your part to protect these and hundreds more species by urging members of Congress to oppose this attack on the Clean Water Act.

http://blog.nwf.org/2015/04/small-but-mighty-streams-and-wetlands-that-matter/feed/0A New Tool Shows the Progress States are Making on Climatehttp://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/a-new-tool-shows-the-progress-states-are-making-on-climate/
http://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/a-new-tool-shows-the-progress-states-are-making-on-climate/#respondFri, 06 Jun 2014 14:11:02 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=96555It has certainly been a great week for climate action. This week saw the release of the long-awaited carbon rules: regulations put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and President Obama that aim to place the first ever limits on carbon pollution from power plants. Along with this landmark rule, the Georgetown Climate Center, released a new online tool that lets you see emissions trends on a state by state basis. Check out this map that shows carbon emissions trends across the country since 2005. Click on the map to see an interactive version where you can get more information about each state’s trends. As the map shows, almost every state in America has seen reduction in carbon emissions from 2005 levels. My home state of Pennsylvania is already well on its way, down 16.2% since 2005. These graphics and charts make it easy to see what the energy makeup of each state looks like. This tool allows for state and regional comparisons and estimates how different carbon capturing programs would positively increase the economy and spur the growth of jobs in the renewable and efficiency sectors. For example, the potential economic benefits from capping carbon pollution in Pennsylvania are an added 1.7 billion to the economy and 26,000 jobs.

River Otters are one of the countless wildlife species impacted by climate change. Photo by Dimitry Azovtsev via Wikipedia.

As you can see from using the Georgetown Climate Center tool, many states are already making great progress on climate pollution. That is becauseaction on climate makes sense as it protects communities and wildlife from the impacts of climate change and air pollution. A really exciting aspect of the EPA’s carbon rule is that it focuses on each state individually, recognizing that there are huge differences in emissions trends and fossil fuel generation state to state. This flexible rule allows for room for states to find a way to reduce emissions that works best for them.

States are already making progress and taking responsible action to address carbon pollution. These carbon rules are a vitally important step to ensure that going forward this positive action continues and carbon emissions continue to drop.

Thousands of North Carolina residents living around the Dan River woke up last week to a disaster in their backyard. Millions of gallons of sludge from a retired Duke Energy coal-fired power plant spilled into a river that supplies drinking water for North Carolinians and Virginians. It took almost a full week to get the leak under control as an estimated 82,000 tons of ash and 27 million gallons of basin water polluted the river: enough to fill 73 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The Dan River coal ash spill is the third largest in U.S. history. Coal ash is particularly pollutant and a byproduct of coal power generation. Tests of the water in the Dan River revealed levels of copper, aluminum, iron and arsenic (a carcinogen), which were all above safe levels. With such a huge influx of highly toxic chemicals, it will take a very long time for the ecology and wildlife of the Dan River to return to a healthy and safe level. This beautiful river, once enjoyed by wildlife and humans alike, will need a long recovery before it is safe to swim, fish, or drink the water.

The threat to wildlife

One of the more important species affected by this spill is probably not an animal you think about every day: bugs. Insects and microorganisms are the backbone of any ecosystem and their health can affect species all the way up the food chain. Jenny Edwards, program manager for the Dan River Basin Association, explains why these little critters are so important:

River otters are found in many North Carolina rivers and are threatened by spills like the one in the Dan River. Photo via USFWS

We are really concerned about the impact it’s going to have on wildlife starting toward the bottom of the food chain, which is the macroinvertebrates, or the bugs. Without those bugs in the river, no other life on the river is possible because those bugs feed the fish and the fish is, of course, what the heron and the bald eagle are hunting

As metals and toxins accumulate in the bugs and fish tissues, they are passed up the food chain, infecting species that rely on the river for food such as catfish, herons, deer, raccoons and bald eagles. People often fish in the Dan River for catfish and species like the bald eagle are an iconic part of American culture. They are all directly put at risk by this coal ash spill.

Speak out to hold Duke Energy accountable

Tell North Carolina Governor McCrory to take action to protect wildlife and communities from coal ash and to hold Duke Energy accountable for this devastating spill. Here are suggested tweets:

As National Wildlife Federation’s naturalist and media personality, I do a monthly appearance on the Today Show, usually during the 4th hour with Kathie Lee and Hoda. Each time, I bring a variety of animal ambassadors to help inspire the millions of viewers to care about wildlife and to join in NWF’s conservation efforts.

I’ve been doing this Today Show stint for over four years at this point, so the ladies and I have become pretty comfortable with each other.

Sutro Sam, the first river otter in San Francisco in fifty years (photo by Mila Zinkova)

“There he is!” exclaimed an onlooker as the otter’s head peered above the water.

The patient crowd gathered around Sutro Baths—the ruins of a 19th century public bathing pool on the Pacific Coast—had been awaiting the appearance of “Sutro Sam,” the first river otter in San Francisco in over fifty years. And he did not disappoint—he glided in the waters and playfully rolled a few times as if posing for the cameras.

Sutro Sam is used to being in the spotlight as visitors from all over California—and the world—have traveled to get a glimpse of this celebrity otter after the Huffington Post and other notable media outlets featured his story. Why the fascination? Aside from being almost unbearably cute, the return of the river otter after such a long absence also underscores a conservation success story.

Megan Isadore, co-founder of The River Ecology Project, is celebrating his return for just this reason. “River otters are a sentinel species in that they require healthy watersheds to thrive. The fact that river otters can live all over San Francisco Bay and the Bay Area indicates that we humans have done something right. It shows that we can make positive changes to our environment, and we surely need all the encouragement we can get in these environmentally tough times. So let’s celebrate Sam, and celebrate continuing conservation and restoration of the watersheds that support all living beings.”

Our attraction to Sutro Sam might also speak to something more fundamental in us—the everyday awe of seeing wild creatures, especially in unexpected places like an urban environment. Megan agrees: “Sutro Sam is a perfect example of the joy we gain from making the changes great and small that allow wildlife to return and thrive in areas where we haven’t seen them in a long time.”

And the thrill was no less diminished for me, even thought I travel around California all the time viewing wildlife. I gave a shout of delight each time he surfaced and snapped hundreds of photos. I also met a local woman, Mila Zinkova, who has been following his antics for some time and shared her impressive knowledge—and wonderful photos with me. Like many, she returns frequently to the baths to get another glimpse.

With all his popularity, the rangers at Golden Gate National Recreation Area are asking people to act responsibly and respectfully observe Sam from a distance for both the safety of the otter and their own safety. Keeping Sam a healthy and wild otter while he remains at Sutro Baths is a priority.

With Sutro’s Sam popularity, keeping him wild and safe is a priority (photo by Beth Pratt)

Scientists are still mystified by the reason for his appearance, but some think he might have traveled from Marin, where the river otter population has been making a comeback. One attraction to Sutro Baths for Sam is a unique and plentiful (for now) food source. For reasons unknown, people have been releasing pet goldfish into the baths for years and they make for an easy meal for Sam. Another unknown: how long the otter will remain as he will probably have to travel to find a mate. Until he swims away in the quest for romance, his fans will gather daily hoping for a sighting.

As I stood on the concrete wall of the baths watching Sam, someone shouted, “Dolphins!” I simply had to turn around to view a pod of bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the ocean. Perhaps even they can’t resist catching a glimpse of San Francisco’s rare and endearing river otter.